NEW ORLEANS – As Smoothie King continues to inspire people to live a healthy and active lifestyle throughout the world, the brand is proud to announce its expansion into a new territory—Trinidad and Tobago. Through a partnership with experienced franchise group Cinnaworld Ltd., a total of four Smoothie King units will be added across the country within the next few years. With more than 780 locations worldwide and plans to top 1,000 locations globally by the end of 2017, Smoothie King, the New Orleans-area-based innovator of the smoothie segment, is excited to bring their purpose to this new territory.

Founded in 2011, Cinnaworld Ltd., is operated by Naveed Mohammed and Renee Peterson, a husband-and-wife team based in Trinidad. Entrepreneurs by trade, the duo has opened a total of seven Cinnabon and four Auntie Anne’s stores in Trinidad and Tobago. Within a year of operation, Cinnaworld Ltd. was recognized by FOCUS Brands as the “International New Franchise Partner of Year.” In 2013, they expanded their territory rights to include Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Lucia and Grenada with a commitment to opening additional locations. But when Mohammed and Peterson decided it was time to diversify their portfolio, they turned to a brand they felt personally passionate about—Smoothie King.

Trinidad and Tobago’s first Smoothie King location is set to open in the third quarter of 2016. And as the country’s preferences shift toward foods that not only taste better, but are better for you, Mohammed and Peterson believe that the brand’s “Smoothies With A Purpose.®” will be met with resounding success.

“Trinidadians love American brands and convenient food offerings, but there is a real gap in the better-for-you market here. Renee and I see an opportunity to cater to people making better decisions about what they put into their bodies,” Mohammed said. “Our country deserves to have an option like Smoothie King. It’s a brand that I grew up loving, and I think that consumers across Trinidad and Tobago will love it, too.”

Smoothie King is poised for international success due to its fine-tuned business model and high-quality products. Where Smoothie King differentiates itself from the competitors is in its narrow focus on marrying health and nutrition with flavor and convenience. It’s a unique blend of attributes that has helped the brand inspire customers since 1973.

Last year, Smoothie King continued to broaden its international scope after announcing plans to open locations in the Middle East and Vietnam—markets that were previously untapped. As of 2016, Smoothie King is currently located in the United States, Korea and Grand Cayman, and the brand is eyeing future development in Japan, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Australia and Brazil.

“We’re finding that people all over the world align with our mission to help guests in local communities live healthier and more active lifestyles, and I’m thrilled to welcome new partners who eat, sleep and breathe what Smoothie King stands for,” said Wan Kim, Smoothie King’s CEO. “I once was in a position very similar to Naveed and Renee—as a franchisee, I had the opportunity to introduce the first Smoothie King to South Korea. And much like Naveed and Renee, I’ve also had the honor of witnessing firsthand how we can inspire people across the world to make better choices and lead healthier lives as our brand continues to grow.”

To inquire about international franchising, please email International@smoothieking.com.

About Smoothie KingSmoothie King Franchises, Inc. is a privately held, New Orleans-area-based franchise company with more than 780 units worldwide. By creating each smoothie with a purpose, Smoothie King makes it simple and pleasurable for guests to achieve their individual health goals as part of a low-calorie diet and regular exercise routine. The franchise also offers a number of healthy retail products, including sports beverages, energy bars, vitamin supplements and more.

Smoothie King was founded in 1973 by Steve Kuhnau, whose mission was to help others achieve better health in a tasty way. In 1989, Smoothie King became the first franchised smoothie bar/health food store in the U.S. and currently operates in 33 states, the Caymans, and the Republic of Korea. In 2015, Smoothie King was ranked No. 1 by Entrepreneur magazine in the juice bar category for the 23rd year and No. 92 overall on the 2015 Franchise 500 list. In 2014, Smoothie King partnered with the New Orleans Pelicans to launch the Smoothie King Center, a multi-purpose indoor arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. Smoothie King offers veterans a 20 percent discount off the initial franchisee fee. Visit www.smoothieking.com or www.smoothiekingfranchise.com; engage on Facebook www.facebook.com/SmoothieKing; follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/smoothieking.